Villagers battle planners over fruit stall (From Bucks Free Press)

Villagers battle planners over fruit stall

5:40pm Monday 2nd March 2009 in

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VILLAGERS in Downley turned out in support of their local shop after a council ruling may close its fruit and veg stand.

Starlight Stalls in Downley has a permanent stall laid out with a variety of fresh goods.

At night owner Emrullah Kaya pulls down a steel shutter to protect his stock from the elements.

However, Wycombe District Council officers have said the shutter contravenes planning regulations – and will have to go.

Around 70 villagers, some holding placards, paid a visit to the store on Saturday, determined not to lose their fruit stall.

Resident Tim Johnston said: “They've got melons, they've got grapes, nectarines, apples of several types, oranges, papayas, avocados.

“There's a huge, huge community feeling and nobody wants to see it go.”

Mr Kaya said if the shutters went he would have to take the fruit inside his shop at night, and he does not have space to store it.

He said that due to the volume of stock it out would take three or four hours to set up meaning he would have to hire more staff.

Mr Johnston said that since Downley lost its post office several months ago there has been a drop in the number of shoppers visiting the village.

He said since the fruit stand was set up a few months ago it has gone some way to rejuvenating the area's commerce.

“Everyone is coming down,” he said.

“I go down there to the shop and I see people there I've never met before. It helps the village shop because it gets more customers through the door.

“We're quite happy to work with the council. We sincerely believe it's our village and our community and we want to see it improve.”

Wycombe District Council spokesman Catherine Spalton released a statement which reads: “Following a visit from a planning enforcement officer, the owner of Starlight Stores was notified in July 2008 that a number of alterations that he had made to his store were in breach of planning regulations and were not appropriate for a conservation area.

“The enforcement officer requested that the owner take immediate action to resolve these breaches.

“A site visit in December 2008 revealed that the owner had not taken any action and there were still a number of planning breaches.

“The owner was reminded that if he did not resolve the situation, enforcement action would be taken.

“In January 2009, a further site visit revealed that action had still not been taken to remedy the planning breaches and as such, an enforcement notice has now been served.”